Tapping Out!
Have you ever been so oversaturated by life that you simply tap out?
Not in the sense of hibernating with an intention to regroup and re-engage, but the other kind of tapping out—the kind where you become numb, just moving through the day, completing your to-do list, but it feels like “the lights are on, but nobody’s home.”
Stepping out instead of leaning in. Leaning into the discomfort and being present, even when it’s uncomfortable.
Over the holiday break, my family revisited a treasure trove of our favorite movies. One of them is The Secret Life of Walter Mitty Watch the clip here.
There’s a key scene where Walter Mitty (played by Ben Stiller) finally finds Sean O’Connell (played by Sean Penn) high in the Himalayas. When a ghost predator cat walks into the frame, Sean lets Walter look through the viewfinder of his old Nikon camera, but makes no attempt to take the shot. Walter, confused, asks, “When are you going to take it?”
“Sometimes I don’t,” says Sean Penn’s character.
“If I like a moment… I don’t like to have the distraction of the camera. I just want to stay in it.”
“Stay in it?”
“Yeah, right there,” Sean smiles. “Right here!”
This moment is one of the most pivotal in the movie because Walter Mitty has spent so much of his life escaping discomfort and using avoidance as a coping mechanism. In contrast, Sean’s character represents mindfulness and presence—staying in the moment rather than running from it.
One saying we use in our house is “Tap me in, Coach” when there’s a kerfuffle in our family dynamics. It’s an affirmation I use with myself too. It’s a reminder to tap into those comfortable, amazing moments of life—and to do the same in the very challenging times.
Ready to lean into the present moment with more ease? Read more of my Sparkle Up Blog posts for insights, or sign up for my newsletter to receive tools and tips on staying centered through life’s challenges. [Sign up here!]
